What is Women: Definition and 181 Discussions

A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural women is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardless of age.
Typically, women have two X chromosomes and are capable of pregnancy and giving birth from puberty until menopause. Female anatomy, as distinguished from male anatomy, includes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, vulva, Skene's glands, and Bartholin's glands. The adult female pelvis is wider, the hips broader, and the breasts larger than that of adult males. Women have significantly less facial and other body hair, have a higher body fat composition, and are on average shorter and less muscular than men.
Throughout human history, traditional gender roles have often defined and limited women's activities and opportunities; many religious doctrines stipulate certain rules for women. With restrictions loosening during the 20th century in many societies, women have gained access to careers beyond the traditional homemaker, and the ability to pursue higher education. Violence against women, whether within families or in communities, has a long history and is primarily committed by men. Some women are denied reproductive rights. The movements and ideologies of feminism have a shared goal of achieving gender equality.
Trans women have a male sex assignment at birth that does not align with their gender identity, while intersex women may have sex characteristics that do not fit typical notions of female biology.

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  1. wasteofo2

    Why interacting with women leaves men cognitively impared

    ''Movies and television shows are full of scenes where a man tries unsuccessfully to interact with a pretty woman. In many cases, the potential suitor ends up acting foolishly despite his best attempts to impress. It seems like his brain isn’t working quite properly and according to new...
  2. N

    Sex discrimination for women in academia

    I study biology, and I have observed that in undergraduate and postgraduate classes the majority of students are female. However, in senior positions from post-doc to professors, there is a strong bias towards males. What could be causing these patterns? How can a woman increase her chances...
  3. rootX

    Global Women Issues (Domestic Violence)

    This emerged from random thoughts on a story about a victim of domestic violence: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16201961 Human rights groups in Bangladesh have demanded a severe punishment for the husband of a young wife who allegedly cut off most of her right hand. I believe we never...
  4. wolram

    What Attracts Women to Flowers?

    Why is it that women like flowers, where as men are indifferent.
  5. J

    Women are crazy. Interpret this text exchange for me, please

    Alright, so my girlfriend and I are planning to go to the Renaissance Fair tomorrow morning. I'd leave my house around 8:30 and pick her up at 9. She offered to cook me breakfast tomorrow morning before we leave, but I declined, since I'd already be waking up at 8am as it is, and I don't want to...
  6. turbo

    Are women more dishonest than men

    or perhaps are they more apt to commit crimes of opportunity? Every couple of months (at most here) there are front-page stories about people stealing money from small businesses and municipalities. Almost exclusively, these people are women. Treasurers, bookkeepers, tax-collectors, mostly...
  7. L

    Why do guys like to look at pictures more than women?

    This tendency has always baffled me-- or at least, it is a tendency I have observed-- that men are very interested in looking at pictures of women or videos of women and most women have little to no interest in pictures or videos of men. Is this something others have also observed, or has my...
  8. QuarkCharmer

    How do you meet intelligent women?

    I'm a huge dork and very socially anxious. I have a hard time approaching women, but fortunately I am quite attractive (I am told). Whenever I go out anywhere I am approached by really attractive women (by conventional standards), and as a result, I never really need to approach women for the...
  9. V

    Why do some people think women suck at science and math?

    Why do some people think women "suck" at science and math? I am a mechanical engineering major. I love science and math. I am very good at the two. I ran into this forum where these people argued over whether or not women are good at science or math. Surprisingly a lot of men said women are...
  10. rootX

    Is street harassment of women just a rite of passage for some men?

    Personally, I have never seen any case of street harassment of women, but I have always been in good parts of the cities. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12771938Is this really a problem in North America or Europe? I know it can be really bad in other parts of world and those cultures don't...
  11. N

    The only women ever interested in me were in relationships.

    Anyone here ever have anything like that? I'm not the best looking man in the world, but what is this about? I've never been involved with a woman who was already involved. But married women often, I do mean often, cozy right up to me real fast. I'm getting the impression that the guys in my...
  12. D

    Women are better at just about everything

    http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/why-women-really-are-better-at-almost-everything-q-a-with-author-dan-abrams-2460114/ Turns out, chicks are better than us at just about everything they do. We are left with better driving, better map reading, and better vision, better at some sports and...
  13. Pengwuino

    What Makes Men's Friendships Stronger Than Women's?

    I will present now a case for why men, whom shall henceforth be known as "the superiors", are better than women, whom shall be known as "the inferiors". The superiors are greater than the inferiors because they use the bathroom for #1, #2, and taking a shower. And each takes less than 10...
  14. B

    Dating economically dominant women

    Not sure whether this is a relationship topic, social science, or a bit of both. The title of the thread may also be misleading. The issue I was thinking of is how dating and relationships would work if women became economically dominant in the way men used to be (and still are in some ways...
  15. L

    Do women find men in wheelchairs attractive?

    Do women find men in wheelchairs attractive?
  16. G

    Why do women generally get such a raw deal in society?

    I am not sure of the political forum is appropriate, since I am interested in evolutionary reasons primarily. Western society right now is probably a historical high point for women. You look at society across the world, throughout time, and consistently you see women treated as less then...
  17. S

    Famous quote of 2010, earthquakes caused by women dressing immodestly .

    Famous quote of 2010, earthquakes caused by women dressing "immodestly". It was even published in the Iranian press. An Iranian cleric blamed earthquakes on women who dress "immodestly" and lead young men "astray". Can it be true? After all, these guys are smart enough to build a nuclear bomb...
  18. J

    Women are more true and intense lovers than men

    It is my general experience and observation that women are more true and intense lovers than men. Though, I myself am a male, there is no reason to lie about it. And, well, I'm not a cheater. What is your thinking on this?
  19. wasteofo2

    Women: how have guys you've liked approached you

    Women: good ways you've been approached Lots of guys don't have the confidence to talk to girls, thinking they will be labelled ''creepy'' for just starting a random conversation with a girl they find attractive. So ladies, from your experience, what kinds of approaches work to start a good...
  20. K

    How do you actually meet women?

    Okay, seriously? I reckon I'm a bit socially awkward at first, I've dated a few women, but now I'm 27 and nothing has worked out. I've recently been trying dating sites, but yeah the only messages I get are from women I have no interest in... I'm sorry but 21, three kids type, no schooling...
  21. Ivan Seeking

    News Are women people? The inconsistency of absolute originalism

    As Stephen Colbert pointed out http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599202066700 Amendment XIV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution Emphasis mine. Yet Scalia voted for corporate personhood. Frankly, I don't know what to say. How did this...
  22. Math Is Hard

    Study: Flamboyant male dancing attracts women best

    Listen up, guys! :biggrin: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100909/ap_on_sc/eu_britain_male_dancing Although I'm not sure if the conclusion should be that women are more attracted to flamboyant dancing. It could just be that dancers who move around a lot are generally perceived as better...
  23. T

    Is there a general trait among women to keep no secrets?

    Is there a general trait among women...to keep no secrets? I've been in a relationship with a wonderful girl for several long months now, and have known her for quite a bit longer...she is wonderful, and I love her to pieces, but we recently began to have "intimate" encounters, and lately I'm...
  24. rootX

    News Status of Women in Afghanistan

    I will be very interested if someone has any studies about women status in Afghanistan through out the history (or before Soviet, during Soviet, post, and American). Second if there has been any study on the comparision of people welfare in all those periods. I made this post in Wikileaks...
  25. A

    Scientist/Engineers have to be socially unadapted? Wow but i like women to xD

    Well personally i like girls, and i like them a lot and i also like math and physics and want to become a Electrical Engineer. I don't why the media portraits as if you are smart in sicience you must be dumb in social relationships. For me life is about finding balance so why can't you be...
  26. H

    Women in Physics: Graduate School & Research Opportunities

    Hello all! I'm currently entering my sophomore year as a physics major at a uni with a pretty good program. Right now (and has been for quite some time) I have plans on studying astrophysics and am working towards a B.S in Physics and Astronomy (yes my university has a degree to allow the...
  27. A

    Are Intelligent, Socially Awkward Males Unsuccessful w/ Women?

    Are Intelligent, Socially Awkward Males Unsuccessful Women Due to Being "Shallow?" As the title, Are Intelligent, Socially Awkward Males Unsuccessful Women Due to Being "Shallow?", would suggest, my hypothesis is that we (or at the very least, "I") have had trouble talking and dealing with...
  28. EnumaElish

    What Helps Women Ask for More [and men for less]?

    http://blogs.bnet.com/management/?p=1735&tag=nl.e713 Should men think twice before setting a scary movie date?
  29. russ_watters

    Do Men Really Lie More Than Women?

    http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/05/18/poll-men-lie-more-than-women-no-really/?hpt=Sbin Who wants first shot at the punch-line?
  30. Borg

    Do Women's Actions Really Cause Earthquakes?

    I don't know what to say about this other than to wonder what this guy was thinking. :rolleyes: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100419/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_earthquakes_promiscuity" I love the reaction though...
  31. Lisa!

    Do men have dirtier minds than women?

    The "area for sexual pursuit" is 2.5 times larger in the male brain than in the female brain. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1976274,00.html :biggrin:
  32. 3

    Women and Emotional Thinking: Examining a Common Gender Stereotype

    Yesterday I got into a discussion with a girl from school about how women are generally more emotional thinkers than men. What mean is that they base their decisions more heavily on how they feel 'in their heart' rather than possibly looking at the big picture. It's more of a personal (dare I...
  33. N

    Conservation of Momentum of a boat and women

    Homework Statement I'm getting fairly frustrated seeing as I've been working on this 'easy' problem for several hours yet still can't get the correct solution. The problem is as follows: A 180 lb- man and a 120-lb woman stand side by side at the same end of a 300-lb boat, ready to dive, each...
  34. R

    Women ski jumpers at a disadvantage because of their mass?

    On last night's Rachel Maddow show, Bill Wolff made the claim that if women are allowed to compete in Olympic ski jumping, the competition must be changed to make it "fair". He said that women are at a disadvantage because of "less mass". He even mentions F=ma. But isn't his assumption totally...
  35. drizzle

    Women's Secrets: Spilled in 47 Hours & 15 Minutes

    :/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6199822/Women-cannot-keep-a-secret-for-longer-than-47-hours.html" That reminds me of a joke; The three fastest ways of communication in the world; telephone, television and tell a women. Still need a faster way? ... Tell her...
  36. N

    The real reason why women wear high-heeled shoes.

    This thread is to honor the 200th birthday of the great Charles Darwin coming up this February. Anyway, back to the topic at-hand. I hypothesize that the reason why female humans wear high-heeled shoes ("pumps") is to gain a deceptive advantage in their physical height. This will make them...
  37. J

    More women than men in russia ? not true for young populations ?

    Hi this is my question : people often say that there are a lot more women than men in Russia. if we look at the statistics, it is true. but now, if we look at a age pyramid, and concentrate on young populations, we see with an age pyramid, that in 2005 there is an equal male-female...
  38. Monique

    Medical Rubella vaccination in pregnant women

    I was reading the news and there is a report of many women in Turkey have opted for abortion after having received the rubella virus vaccine during their pregnancy. In light of the recent discussion of the flu-vaccine I thought it might be of interest. These women were not properly counseled...
  39. A

    Did attractive women actually benefit from feminism?

    Did attractive women actually benefit from feminism? Or was it just a way to allow for unattractive women to vent their frustrations against how "easy" attractive women had their lives? Rush Limbaugh describes feminism as "a misguided way to allow unattractive women into the mainstream."...
  40. 2

    How do you read the flirting traffic signals women send men?

    How do you "read" the flirting traffic signals women send men? Have you noticed that when you're around someone you feel attracted to, you feel different on the inside than you do when you're around someone you aren't attracted to? Well, apparently we send off subtle body language signals when...
  41. 2

    What's the morse code women have with men?

    I've heard there are researchers who study the process of men asking women on dates. They'll go to public places, with their notebooks, where people ask others on dates, and then statistics are computed. Then it gets published in academic peer-review journals. I've heard that others have...
  42. D

    Advice for Women in Math: Overcome Inferiority Complex

    Hello, I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice to a women in such a male dominated field. I'm a sophomore-almost-junior math major, physics minor and as much as i try not to i can't help but feel somewhat inferior compared to my classmates, even when i KNOW i am doing just as well or better...
  43. P

    From an evolutionary perspective, why do women have bosoms?

    We've all heard people from time to time in their conversations ask about this riddle. Many say that they're all fat and don't know why men care about them, etc. This is what some think evolution says, plus some alternative views. I like to test ideas. What's everyone's take on this? ...
  44. MathematicalPhysicist

    Is Asking a Woman Out Only for the Bold?

    Any tips for someone who never tried it before (when he was sane)? I guess asking a woman out should be for the insaners.
  45. S

    Number of Female Programmers: US & Worldwide - Answers Here

    Now this is a question that not only bugs me but all the other male programmers I know in South-Africa (I do'nt know how it is in other countries): How many female programmers are there? And how and at what age do they get interested in programming? I have heard that most female programmers...
  46. L

    Is there an evolutionary or other reason that men get bald but women don't?

    I'm not looking for any causal explanations, i.e. "men stop making testosteron which causes baldness". I'm not saying this is the case - just so you know what i mean. But is there a reason evolutionary reason, or anything similar, that men lose their hair whereas women don't?
  47. O

    Women and painting: is it just me or do they really, really like it?

    I'm noticing a pattern here. It seems to me that women love grabbing a roller and throwing some paint on the walls. Which I find appealing. It's a general stereotype I'm looking at as a possibility: guys tear down motors; women shop for shoes; guys go hunting; women dip brushes. This whole women...
  48. S

    So …Who are some influential women in the field of physics?

    Found this article on mental_floss, http://digg.com/general_sciences/4_Women_Who_Rocked_Physics" .
  49. T

    Who is Smarter: Men or Women? Thread Closed.

    who do you think is smarter,men or women?
  50. M

    Modernisation of Religion to be Equal to Women

    I saw on a Sunday TV show 'The Big Questions' that the Church is the only institution that is still allowed to be sexist. Women are not allowed to be appointed as bishops. Surely the modernisation of religion is overdue in our secular society? I believe that the adoption of a total religious...
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